Tents and like structures



Aug. 4, 1959 Filed Oct. 16, 1956 O. G. A. LIDEN TENTS AND LIKE. STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4, 1959 o. G. A. LlDEN 2,897,831

TENTS AND LIKE STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 16, 1956 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

TENTS AND LIKE STRUCTURES Odd G. A. Lidn, Johanneshov, Sweden Application October 16, 1956, Serial No. 616,234 i 2 Claims. (Cl. 135-4) This invention relates to a construction for a selfsuppor-ting collapsible tent or like structure, which is constructed of standard individual parts.

An object of the invention is to provide a tent or like structure which can be readily dismantled into a small compass when required whilst the complete assembled tent can be arranged simply and effectively along with othersimilar tents in a straight line, in an angular formation, or in a curved, fork-shaped, star-shaped or similar formation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tent which can be erected and dismantled easily and quickly, and consists of only a small number of small parts. In the collapsed position, the tent takes up little space and it is very stable in the erected position and is quite capable of standing up to any weather even without anchoring or reinforcement. The supporting members of the tent are arranged in an inclined manner and therefore there is less surface exposed to the action of wind. Moreover, by the use of lattice construction, large spans can be provided in the case of relatively large tents, so that the free space inside the tent is not hampered by poles, props or the like.

According to the invention there is provided a tent or like structure, consisting of a collapsible, self-supporting tent skeleton and a tent cover therefor, the tent skeleton consisting of two more pairs of legs of similar construction which are erected opposite one another and are connected together by means of a pin, hasp, spring or like joints so as to form a skeleton upon which one or more roof ridge members are supported, the ridge members being held fast in position by their own weight and by the weight and form of the tent cover.

The various parts of the tent skeleton can be so constructed that they be dismantled into small sections. A number of assembled tents can be connected together e.g. by means of stin'ups, eyes and ropes, when, by using auxiliary tent cover sections or fly sheets, lightproof and weather-tight joints can be obtained at the junctions. The auxiliary tent cover sections or fly sheets for connecting tents may be sewn securely to the tent and rolled up when not required.

Tubular material, angle sections or wooden frame members can be used for the tent skeleton.

Various constructional embodiments of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a tent skeleton with four pairs of legs.

Fig. 2 shows another constructional form of the tent roof.

Fig. 3 shows a tent skeleton for relatively large tents.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing different constructional forms of stops for preventing the tent legs from sinking too deeply into the ground.

Fig. 5 shows another constructional form of a fixed frame member.

The tent skeleton according to Fig. 1 consists of four pairs of legs. The outer pairs of legs are constructed nited States Patent 0 i Patented Aug. 4, 1959 in the same manner and the same is true of the inner pairs of legs. Any desired number of pairs of legs can be used in this constructional form. Each pair of legs consists of a frame member, 15 or 16 respectively, with fittings 2a and 2b in which the legs 1 are hingedly secured, so that they can either be swung outwards into a like, thus obtaining a stable tent skeleton. Apart from the pairs of legs, four in number in the present case, the

skeleton is provided with three tubular roof ridge members 12, 17. The outer tubes 12 are of the same length, Whilst the tube 17 is somewhat longer (all the tubes be- .tween internal pairs of legs, in constructions having more than four pairs of legs, are of the same length). The fastening element 6 can be used either for securing the tent cover to the tent skeleton or for connection to a stake 18 or the like for anchoring the tent.

The ridge tubes 12, 17 are provided with pins 13 which for erection of the tent, are inserted into holes in fittings 14 which are secured e.g. to the underside of the highest point of the upper tube of the fixed frame member 15, 16. The frame member is tubular but may also be constructed in another manner. Fig. 3 shows another constructional form of the frame member. Instead of straight tubes with pins, articulated tubes can also be used.

As a result of the use of a loose ridge which rests with the appropriately fashioned tent cover on the tent skeleton, the construction obtained is light and takes up little space, and after the cloth has been fitted over the frame the occupants of the tent can move about upright throughout the tent, whilst rain water flows off satisfac torily.

The tent skeleton construction makes it possible to assemble the roof system before the tent is erected. In this case the erectors have an ideal working height and a full view of all the individual parts. Work above head level is eliminated, which is advantageous particularly in the case of relatively large and high tents. When pitching the tent, the tent cover is unwound along the tent skeleton and carefully drawn downwards over the skeleton. The tent cover is then brought out to the shape of the skeleton. In erecting the tent, one longitudinal side of the skeleton is lifted up, the legs sliding along the ground on which the tent is to be erected. The skeleton is lifted sufliciently high for all the legs to take up the inwardly sloping position, which is determined by the fittings. Then the other longitudinal side is erected in the same manner. Relatively large tents (5 x 8 metres) can be pitched in this manner in less than 3 to 5 minutes. Tents of corresponding size and of hitherto known types, often require hour and more erecting personnel.

Wear is also not as great, since the tent cover does not have to be drawn to a great height over the tent skeleton. Very large tents therefore can be made in a single piece. The weight of the tent cover is not important since it can be place in position at approximately waist level.

In the constructional form according to Fig. 2, the tent roof ridge is made in two parts. Each part is hingedly fixed so that the tubular parts can be swung inwards against the upper tube of the fixed frame member. A combination of hinges and pins can also be used. The one frame member 4b is provided with a tubular sleeve which accommodates the end of the other frame member 4a.

In the constructional form according to Fig. 3, the fixed frame member is constructed as a lattice structure. In

this construction, reinforcement is not necessary, but may' be provided e.g. as indicated at 19, 20. In'the. case of large and heavy tents, stop members 21 for preventing the legs from penetrating too far into the ground must be provided. These are also necessary in the case of tents which are pitched on very loose or soft ground. The

stop members can be fixedly or detachably arranged on the legs. Fig. 4 shows firstly a socket 22 with a stop member, the socket being fitted onto the legs without the use of the supporting abutment, and secondly a stop member 23 for legs provided with an abutment ring 24, the abutment ring having to be provided on the leg to support the stop member.

In the constructional form-according to Fig. 5, the free frame member is made in two parts in order to facilitate transport. 25, 26 designate connecting plates for pins, locking bolts and reinforcements.

The tent frame can be extended with any desired number of groups of pairs of legs.

What I claim is:

1. A tent frame structure comprising a plurality of pairs of opposed longitudinally spaced legs, gabled frames connected transversely between the upper ends of the legs with said' frames and with respect to which said legs are movable outwardly for erection and movable inwardly against said frames for collapsibility, tubular sleeves extending longitudinally from said fittings, frame members extending longitudinally between adjacent pairs of legs and the ends of which are fitted into said sleeves, said longitudinal frame members being movable inwardly against said gabled frames, plate-like fittings secured under the ri'gde portions of said gabled frames, and tubular roof ridge members extendinglongitudinally between said plate-like fittings and having depending end pinsremovably receivable in apertures in said plate-like fittings.

2. A tent frame structure. according to claim 1, in which a tent cover extends over said frame structure and holds the depending end pins of said roof ridge members in the apertures in said plate-like fittings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,547 Kennedy et a1. May 13, 1913 1,068,352 Lyttle July 22, 1913' 1,509,881 Severin Sept. 30, 1924 2,144,747 Adams Jan. 24, 1939 2,345,377v Bowen Mar. 28, 1944 2,705,966 Magary Apr. 12, 1955 

